Shoe treating apparatus



June 30, 1942. Y H, CUSHMAN 2,287,977

SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 iv m5:

June 30, 1942; v 1 U M 2,287,977

SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a? 11? F I June 30, 1942. L, ,CUSHMAN 2,287,977

SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 6', 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 AND/L Patented June 30, 1942 UNETE ST res PATENT OFFICE SHOE TREATING APPARATUS Application March 6, 1941, Serial N o.-382,048

(CLlZ-l) 17 Claims.

Thislinvention relates to apparatus'for treating shoes, andmore particularly toapparatus, for softening the toe portions of partially lasted shoes to prepare them for the toe lasting operation.

In many present .day apparatus employed for this purpose, the toe portions of the shoes are subjected to the action of low pressure moist steam for a substantial period of time such as twenty or thirty seconds, the length of time depending upon the temperature of the steam used and the character of the materials constituting the toe portion of the shoe. Heretofore, temperatures of 170 to 180 F. have been generally employed, inasmuch as temperatures higher than these have been considered harmful to the shoes, thus requiring a substantial period of time to softenthe toes properly for the toelasting operation.

It has been found that shoes can stand, for a short time, a considerably higher temperature than that which has heretofore been generally used without harmful effects if the steam is substantially dry, and a short exposure of the shoe to the high temperature steam will sufiice to soften the toe sufficiently for subsequent operations. By the use of superheated steam at a temperature of 250 'F. and in some cases even higher, depending upon the materials used in the shoe which is undergoing treatment, the time required for the operation may be reducedin some cases to about six seconds thus greatly speeding the output of the apparatus.

Since insoles do not require softening treatment, and since steam and high temperatures are both detrimental to sole-leather, one of the problems encountered in steaming lastingmargins of shoe uppers is to do so without scorching, warping or shrinking the insoles.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for supplying steam at a high temperature to the toe portion of a shoe and masking the under surface of the insole along opposite marginal portions from the steam, the apparatus being adjustable to treat shoes of different widths.

In accordance with one feature of this invention, low pressure steam is passed through a superheater comprising a metallic block provided with heating means for raising the temperature of the steam passing therethrough, the outlet end of the passageway through the block communicating with a hollow hinge pin rigid with and extending upwardly from the block. The hinge pin forms a fulcrum for a pairof steam chambers which receivetsteam from the superheater by wayof the hinge Finland direct the steam to the mammalzportionof; a shoe supported thereabove. Theiblock forms a support for the steam chambers .and transmits heat to the chambers by conduction. :These chambers are adjustable about the hinge. pin to accommodateshoes of different sizes.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, theshoe is supported by a pairof arms fulcrumedabout a pivot which is substantially in axial. alinement with theaxis .of' thehinge pin, the arms .being locatedabove the steam chambers and being arranged to engage the edge of the insole at opposite sides of the toe. The work-. engaging surfaces of these arms are composed ofa yieldable materialwhioh is heat resistant and seals the insole from the action of the steam emitted fromthe steam chambers.- These arms are arranged to be adjusted simultaneously with the-steam chambers to accommodate shoes of various sizes.

The shoe is heldagainst the supporting arms, in-accordance with another feature of the invention, by. a feltroll yieldingly held against the uppersurfaceof the toe portionof the shoe, there being'a gageassociated with the arms for determining the lengthwise position of the shoe relative thereto anda support for the shoe rearwardly-ofthe tip line, thislatter support having apin arranged to-penetrate the insoleto prevent accidental lengthwise movement relatively thereto.

These-and other features --of the invention 'will now bedescribed in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is-a side elevation, partly in section, of one form of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is a front elevation ofthe apparatus;

-Fig.-3-is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the steam chambersand the shoe-supporting arms;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the steam chambers;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the supporting arms;

Fig. 7 isa perspective view of the superheater block showing 'the steam passageway therethrough; and

Fi 8 is a section on the line VIII--VIII of Fig. 5. a

Low pressure steam is supplied by way of a pipe Ill (Fig. 1) from any suitable source to a metallic block !2 which forms a superheater for raisingthe temperature of .the steam to approximately250 or 300;F. The block I 2 rests ona sheet of thermal insulating material I4 which, in turn, rests on a base plate I6, the block I2 being secured to the base plate I6 by the bar I8 (Figs. 1 and 3). The bar I8 is secured by screws 20 to the block I2 and by screws 22 to the base plate I6, this base plate being, in turn, secured to a supporting plate 24 by screws (not shown). The block I2 is heated in any suitable manner, as by an electrical heating unit 26 positioned in a socket within the block.

The passageway for the steam through the block is illustrated in Fig. '7, wherein it will be seen that the steam traverses a long path through the block so that its temperature may be increased substantially from that at which it enters the block. The heating unit has been omitted from this figure to indicate more clearly the path traversed by the steam. The passageways are indicated as having been formed by drilling ducts from the sides of the block, the various ducts intersecting one another to form one long continuous, tortuous duct and the bores are closed by plugs 30, but it should be understood that the block may be formed in any suitable manner, as by casting within the block a tube of copper bent into sutiable form so that, the path followed by the steam will be sufficiently long to raise the temperature of the steam to the desired degree.

Rigidly secured within a bore in the block is a hinge pin 32 (Figs. 3 and 7) having an axial passage communicating with the exit end of the passageway within the block, the hinge'pin being rigidly secured in place by a set screw 34. The hinge pin is provided with radial ports 36 and 38 spaced both axially and circumferentially from each other to provide communication between the hinge pin and a pair of steam chambers 48 and 42 having ported bosses 44 and 46 (Fig. 3) surrounding the hinge pin, which thereby forms a fulcrum for the steam chambers permitting their adjustment toward and away from one another while maintaining communication between the chambers and the interior of the hinge pin. A flanged plug 48 at the upper end of the hinge pin prevents vertical movement of the chambers thereon and seal the upper end of the vertical bore in the hinge pin. The outer ends of the chambers are connected together by a toggle composed of links 58 and 52 (Figs. 4 and connected to the chambers by pins 53, the knee 54 of the toggle being connected to a screw 56 threaded through a bracket 58 (Fig. l) secured to the supporting plate 24. By rotation of the screw 56 in one direction or the other, the chambers 40 and 42 may be moved toward or away from one another for a purpose to be described.

The steam chambers are formed with horizontal passageways 6D and 62 (Figs. 5 and 8), the passageway 60 communicating with the port in the boss and the passageway 62 communicating by a vertical passageway 64 with a horizontal passageway 66. Vertical ports 68 and. II! forming jets for the exhaust of steam are in communication with the passageway 66. These jets exhaust into a channel I2 (Fig. 8), the top wall of which is covered by a fine mesh screen 14 to diffuse the steam as it leaves the channel. Plates I6 are secured to the outer walls of the steam chambers 48 and 42 and extend upwardly therefrom to direct the steam to the marginal portion of a shoe supported thereabove.

The steam chambers 40 and 42 rest in contact with the top wall of the superheater I2, as shown in Fig. 3, and receive heat therefrom by conduction so that no appreciable cooling of the steam takes place in its passage through the steam chambers after leaving the superheater I2. The outlet ports 36 and 38 in the hinge pin 32, by which steam is conducted from the superheater to the steam chambers, are wide enough to provide communication at all times between the superheater and the steam chambers regardless of the adjustment of the steam chambers relative to one another.

The toe portion of a shoe is supported above the steam chambers by a pair of arms 88 and 82 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6), the arms being curved as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 substantially to conform to the shape of the toe portion of a shoe. The arms rest on a plate 84, which is, in turn, supported by an arm 86 (Figs. 1 and 4) extending forwardly from the bracket 58. Transversely extending bars 88 and 90 received in recesses in the forward end of the arm 86 (Fig. 3) provide lateral support for the plate 84. A fulcrum pin 92 extends upwardly through the forward end of the arm 86 and provides a fulcrum for the forward ends of the supporting arms and 82, these arms being provided with bosses 94 and 96 respectively, which surround the fulcrum pin. The fulcrum pin 92 is substantially in alinement with the axis of the hinge pin 32 so that the supporting arms 88 and 82 may be adjusted about the same center as the steam chambers 48 and 42. The arms 80 and 82 are urged apart by a spring I00 having an intermediate portion coiled about a screw I82 threaded into the arm 85, the ends of the spring bearing against lugs I04 depending from the arms 88 and 82. The pins 53 by which the toggle links 5!] and 52 are connected to the steam chambers extend upwardly to form stops against which the lugs I84 bear to limit the spreading of the arms 88 and 82 by the spring I00. It will be obvious that, with this construction, as the steam chambers 48 and 42 are adjusted relative to one another, the supporting arms 80 and 82 will be adjusted a corresponding amount.

In order to prevent contact of the steam with the lower face of the insole of the shoe supported on the arms 80 and 82, the upper surfaces of the arms are channeled to receive fiat strips I86 of thermal insulating material against which the insole of the shoe is seated with considerable pressure as will be described. The material I06 1s of such character that it is unaffected by the steam emitted from the steam chambers, one kind of material which has been found suitable for this purpose being Neoprene. Thi material is sufliciently resilient to conform to slight curvatures in the surface of the insole, thereby preventing a flow of steam between the strips and the insole.

For gaging the position of the shoe on the supporting arms 88 and 82, a gage I98 is arranged to be engaged by the toe end of the shoe, this gage being secured by screws III] (Fig. 3) to the forward end of the arm 86. The toe end of the shoe is held against the arms 88 and 82 by a spool-shaped felt roll II2 (Figs. 1 and 2) held between ears II4 extending downwardly from the upper end of an arm IIB formed of spring steel, the lower end of the arm being secured at I I3 to the supporting plate 24. The spring arm H6 normally holds the roll H2 in a position close to the supporting arms 80 and 82 and yields upwardly upon the insertion of a shoe under the roll'on the supporting arms, as indicated in Fig. 1. The spring exerts sufiicient force to hold the toe endof the shoe firmly on the supporting arms and to cause the material I06 effectively to-seal the insole from the steam. Additional support is formed for the shoe rearwardly of the portion to be treated, which terminates substantially at the tip line, by a supporting member I20 (Fig. 1) secured by a screw I22 to the upper end of the bracket arm 58, the supporting member I20 being provided with a-sharp-spur I24 arranged to penetrate slightly the insole when the heel end of the shoe is dependent uponit for support to prevent accidental displacementof the shoe while undergoing treatment. The steaming apparatus and the toe end of-a shoe when presented thereto are enclosed by acasing I25, the lower portion of which is secured by screws I28 to flanges turned up from a plate I30 which embraces the superheater block -I2 and is secured to the base plate I6. Thec'asing I26 has an opening for the shoe, theopening being lined with-a felt piece I30, which is arranged to engage the shoe when inserted therein to prevent any escape of steam from the casing around the shoe. An exhaust pipe I32 directs the exhaust steam upwardly from the casing I26 under the control of a damper I34.

In the use of the apparatus, a partially lasted shoe S (Fig. 1) is presented to the apparatus prior to the toe-lasting operation and is slipped under the roll H2 and placed on the supporting arms with the forward or toe end of the insole I bearing against the gage I08, this gage being located between theinsole and the lasting margin M of the shoe. The lasting margin will extenddownwardly around the toe end of the shoe approximately to the top edge of the plates '56 so that steam will be directed upwardly against the inner surface of the lasting margin and, to some extent, between the last and the lining of the shoe to soften the materials constituting the toe of the shoe around the margin thereof. The steam, which first passes through the superheater, will have its temperature raised to a value which may be predetermined by controlling the heating efiect of the heater 26 so that it is substantially free from any particles of moisture and will heat the materials forming the toe of theshoe without appreciablymoistening them. The screen 14 enclosing the top of the channels 12 is of sufficiently fine mesh so that, if any particles of moisture areemitted from the jets 68 and I0, they will be trapped by the screen and will not reach the shoe. It will be noted in Fig. that the jets I0 at the forward ends of the steam chambers are several in number so that the greater flow of steamfrom the chambers will be around the toe end of the shoe where the greater heating eifect is necessary, whereas only one jet is illustrated at the rearward end of the chambers inasmuch as less steam is required near the tip line. However, the steam will be emitted from the chambers along the entire lengths thereof, as the channels I2 in the upper surfaces thereof form difiusing chambers so that some steam will reach all portions of the lasting margin. Obviously, the number and location of jets may be varied as desired. The casing surrounding the toe portion of the shoe, when the shoe is being acted upon, is so shaped that, after the steam has escaped from the lasting margin M, it will be deflected over the toe end to soften in some degree the materials lyingon the toe portion of the last, thereby properly conditioning the materials for the toe-lasting operations.

By rotating the screw 56, the relative positions of the steam chambers maybe ,adjustedto accommodate shoes of different sizes, this adjustment being accompanied by a corresponding adjustment .of the supporting arms and 82 so that they will be adjusted to the particular size of the shoe and will seal the insole of the shoe from the actionof the steam, thereby preventing any damage to the insole which, in certain grades of shoes, is of inferior material which would not properly resist the action of the hot steam.

Inasmuch as very hot, dry steam is employed, the time required for properly conditioning the shoe is substantially reduced and, if the steam is sufiiciently hot, the time may be as little as six seconds, thereby increasing considerablythe speed of operation of the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pa ent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to direct steam to the marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned adjacent thereto, and means for adjusting said members relatively to one another in accordance with the width of the toe portion of the shoe to be treated.

2. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a .pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to direct steam to the marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, means for supporting a shoe over said members, said supporting means being arranged to mask the insole of the shoe without obstructing the steam emitted from said ports, and means for adjusting said members relatively to one another.

3. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, means for supporting a shoe above said members, said supporting means being constructed and arranged to mask the insole of the shoe without masking said marginal portion, yielding means for pressing the insole of the shoe against said supporting means, and means for adjusting said members relatively toone another to accommodate shoes of various slzes.

4. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam ducts terminating in emission ports arranged to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end ofa partially lasted shoe positioned adjacent thereto, a hollow hinge pin on which one end of each of said members is fulcrumed, said hinge pin being provided with radial ports communicatingwith the ducts in said members, means for supplying steam to said ducts by way of said hinge pin, and means for adjusting said members about said hinge pin according to the width of the toes to be treated.

5. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a heating member having a steam duct, means for supplying steam to one end of said duct, a hollow hinge pin communicating with th delivery end of said duct, a pair of members engaging said heating member and fulcrumed on said hinge pin, said hinge pin having radial ports affording communication between said heating member and said members, said members having emission ports arranged to direct the superheated steam to the lower marginal portion of a shoe positioned thereover, and means for adjusting said members relatively to one another according to the width of the toe of the shoe to be treated.

6. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to' direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, a metallic block for supporting said members, said block having a tortuous passageway therethrough, a hollow hinge pin mounted in said block and communicating with the outlet end of said passageway, said members being fulcrumed on said hinge pin for adjustment relatively to one another, said hinge pin having radial ports providing communication between said block and said members, and a heating element in said block for maintaining high temperature of said block and said hinged members.

'7. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising means for emitting jets of steam to the unlasted lasting margin of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, a pair of masking members arranged to engage the insole of the shoe and to exclude the steam from the insole, and means for adjusting said masking members relatively to one another to accommodate shoes of different widths.

8. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for emitting jets of steam to the unlasted lasting margin of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, and means for supporting a shoe above said steam-emitting means, said supporting means being arranged to engage and mask, respectively, the opposite marginal portions of the outer face of the insole of the shoe, the work-engaging portions of said shoe-supporting means being composed of material of low thermal conductivity.

9. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for directing steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, a pair of arms arranged to engage the opposite marginal portions of the insole of the shoe to support the shoe relatively to said steam-directing means, the work-engaging portions of said arms being provided with a heat resistant material arranged to mask the insole from the action of the steam, and means for adjusting said arms relatively to one another in accordance with the width of the shoe to be treated.

10. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for emitting two spaced series of jets of steam to the opposite lasting margins of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, a pair of arms arranged to engage the opposite marginal portions of theinsole of the shoe to support the forepart of the shoe adjacent to said steam-directing means, the work-engaging portions of said arms being fiat strips of low thermal conductivity.

11. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for directing steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, a pair of arms arranged to engage the opposite marginal portions of the insole of the shoe to support the shoe relatively to said steam-directing means, the work-engaging portions of said arms being provided with a heat resistant material arranged to mask the opposite marginal portions of the insole from the action of the steam, a roll formed of yielding material positioned above said supporting arms and arranged to engage the upper surface of the toe end of a shoe, and resilient means urging said roll toward said arms with sufficient force to maintain said shoe in engagement therewith.

12. In a shoe-treating apparatus, means for directing steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, a pair of arms arranged to engage the opposite marginal portions of the insole of the shoe to support the shoe relatively to said steam-directing means, the work-engaging portions of said arms being provided with a heat resistant material arranged to mask the opposite marginal portions of the insole from the action of the steam, a roll formed of yielding material positioned above said supporting arms and arranged to engage the upper surface of the toe end of a shoe, means urging said roll toward said arms yieldingly to maintain said shoe in engagement therewith, and additional means for supporting the shoe rearwardly of said arms, said last-named supporting means being constructed and arranged to resist longitudinal movement of the shoe relatively to said supporting arms.

13. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, a pair of supporting members arranged to engage the marginal portion of the insole at the toe end of the shoe to position the shoe relatively to said steam chambers, said supporting members being constructed and arranged to mask the opposite marginal portions of the insole from the steam emitted from said chambers, and means for simultaneously adjusting said members and said supporting means to accommodate shoes of different widths.

14. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports arranged to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe, means pivotally connecting said members together at one end, a pair of supporting arms arranged to be engaged by the marginal portion of the toe end of the insole of the shoe for pcsitioning the shoe relatively to said members, means pivoting said arms together about an axis in alinement with the pivotal connection of said members, said arms being constructed and arranged to mask the lower face of the insole from steam emitted from said chambers, means biasing said arms apart, means carried by said members arranged to be engaged by the free ends of said arms to limit the spreading thereof by said biasing means, and means for adjusting said members in accordance with the width of the toe portion of the shoe to be treated.

15. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers pivoted together at one end and provided with emission ports arranged to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end. of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, a pair of supporting arms pivoted together at one end about an axis in alinement with the pivotal connection between said members and arranged for engagement with the marginal portion of the insole at opposite sides of the toe end thereof, said arms being constructed and arranged tomask the face of the insole atopposite marginal portions from the steam, means for spreading the free ends of said arms apart, a toggle connected to the free ends of the members for causing adjustment thereof relatively to one another, fulcrum pins by which the toggle is connected to said members, said pins extending upwardly and adjacent to said arms, and lugs depending from said arms and arranged to engage the upper ends of said pins whereby adjustment of the members will cause a similar adjustment of said arms to accommodate shoes of difierent widths.

16. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, a metallic block for supporting said members, a hollow hinge pin supported in said block and providing a fulcrum for said members whereby the opposite ends thereof may be adjusted relatively to one another, a steam passageway in said block communicating with said hinge pin, said hinge pin having radial ports providing communication between the block and the steam chambers, means for heating the block to superheat the steam passing therethrough and to heat by conduction said members, and means for supporting a shoe over said members comprising a pair of arms engaging the opposite marginal portions of the toe end of the insole of the shoe being treated, said supporting means being constructed and arranged to mask the face of the insole along opposite marginal portions from the steam emitted from said steam chamhere.

17. In a shoe-treating apparatus, a pair of members having steam chambers and emission ports to direct steam to the lower marginal portion of the toe end of a partially lasted shoe positioned thereover, a metallic block for supporting said members, a hollow hinge pin supported in said block and providing a fulcrum for said members whereby the opposite ends thereof may be adjusted relatively to one another, a steam passageway in said block communicating with said hinge pin, said hinge pin having radial ports providing communication between the block and the steam chambers, means for heating the block to superheat the steam passing therethrough and to heat by conduction said members, means for supporting a shoe over said members comprising a pair of arms engaging the opposite marginal portions of the toe end of the insole of the shoe being treated, said supporting means being constructed and arranged to mask the face of the insole along opposite marginal portions from the steam emitted from said steam chambers, and means for causing simultaneous adjustment of said members and said arms to accommodate shoes of different widths.

LEE H. CUSHMAN. 

